Feeding and Nutrition :: turtle over eaters anonymous

[tyzo]

So as I have been reading and learning in the forum and seeing photos of other over eating turtles I now know my res is also over eating.
Im making adjustments to its diet: it was getting Zoo Med Natural Aquatic Turtle Food Hatchling Formula because when we got it it was too small for pellets. Once he got bigger I started giving himTetrafauna™ ReptoMin® Floating Food Sticks for Aquatic Turtles, Newts and Frogs 4 a night, and I would alternate each night. My husband took over feeding time he was giving both hatching formula and pellets together so now Sheldons shell has the "teeth" edges and you can see where its spaced between scutes.

His new diet has been anacharis and water lettuce at his lesiure and 3 pellets a night. But yesterday he ate a goldy so I did not give pellets. My question is if he eats a feeder fish when should I give him pellets again? also he measures at 3.5" when I got him 7 motnhs ago he was about 1.5" most just a tiny hatchling.

[steve]

There doesn't seem to be anything noticeable in that picture. If he ate a good size feeder fish, you might want to skip pellets/protein for a day or two. That's just my opinion though.

If you want to skip any confusion with your husband or anyone else who might sneak pellets to your turtle, try sorting them out in a pill box first.

[tyzo]

thats a good idea thanks.

[richieboy]

What is that plant? It looks cool. Is it real?

[tyzo]

its a water lettuce plant I picked it up at a local nursery I had to trim the roots down and rinse it really well before putting it in the tank. he seems to like it he munches on the leaves and plays in it he also sleeps holding onto it. but he nips the roots off and they get stuck to the filter. but they have been in there for a week and are still doing well.

[richieboy]

I like it. Though I feel if I put that in my turtle will gorge itself until it's all gone.